Mausoleum.



T. J. MOORE.

MAUSOLBUM.

APPLIGATIoN 211.211 .1111.11.1911.

1,012,893. Patented 116112111911.

QQ ff* $2 27 /77a THOMAS J'. MOORE, 0F BICHMONDpHILL. NEW YORK MAUSOLEUM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 26, 1911.

Application filed July 1, 19H.' Serial No. 636574.

Toall 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. Moons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond Hill, in the borough of Queens, city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Mausoleums, of which vation.

the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a tomb or mausoleum above ground, containing aV series ot' Catacombs, and adapted for the reception of a plurality of bodies, such as shown in Letters Patent No. 863,303, granted to me August 13, 1907, but my invention'ls applicable to many diierent constructions of tombs or mausoleums, and it consists in providing means whereby the gaseous roducts of decomposition may be conveyed rom the Catacombs to the atmos here exterior of the mausoleum, while the nid products of decomposition are conveyed to earth or discharged directly into a sewer below the catacomb, and wherebyv both such products may be conveyed from any one or all of the catacombs simultaneously. y

It further consists in providing means whereby any such products of decomposition that may be issuing from one or more of the Catacombs is prevented from entering another catacomb 1n which an interment may or may'not have been made.

It is preferable to so arrange the parts that there are no projections beyond the inner surfaces of the Catacombs, and therefore no interference with the placing of a casket and its retaining box into the catacomb, while at the same time the parts are not visible on the exterior of the catacombs and consequently there is nothing to mar the ornamental appearance of the structure.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of a mausoleum fitted with my improvement and showing the system of pipes therein in ele- Fig. 2 is a horizontal section at about the dotted line as, of Figs. 1 and 3. Fir. 3 is a vertical section at about the dotteu line y, y, of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of one of the bottom slabs. The parts in Figs. 2 and 3 are shown in larger slze. i

Similar'reference numerals indicate corresponding parts-in all the figures of the drawing.. i

1 represents the'foundation wall; 2 the side walls; 3 the back and front walls; 4 the roof slabs, and 5 the roof key-stone.

'lhe roof slabs and .keyfstone are each preferably in one piece, the full length of the mausoleum or vault, there being a series of recesses 6 in the facesof the keystone which abut the edges ofk the roof slabs, and

other recesses 7 in the upper face of each roof slab adjacent to the edge thereof coming against the keystone, so that when the parts are assembled, the respective recesses come into juxtaposition and form ventilating openings in the roof, which permit the passage of currents of air and prevent the entrance of water or snow in storms, a similar construct-ion being shown in my aforesaid patent and also in Letters Patent No. 863,930. granted to me A ugustQth, 1907.

' lVithin the foundation 1, I prefer to provide a bed of cinders 8, or other similar material, the upper surfacev of which is on `the same level with the upper surface of the foundation, and upon this bed of cinders and the foundation, I place a concrete bed 9. 10 represents a floor slab preferably in one piece from the front to the back wall of themausoleum. This floor slab 'rests upon raised portions 11 of the concrete bed, so that an air space is formed between. the fioor slab and upper surface of the concrete bed. The Catacombs are composed of the bottom shelves 12, intermediate shelves 12, top slabs 13, end slabs 14, front slabs 15 and back slabs 16, and are preferably so proportioned that each catacomb is a receptacle for a single body and its coffin and retaining box. 37 represents a cover slab which extends over the space between the Catacombs and above the fioor slab 10, and Vthis cover slab is preferably supported on the edges of the top slabs 13 and front slabs 15. It is preferable that this cover slab 37 be provided with openings, and that a ventilation device 38 be secured over the said openings.

The structure? thus :far described is similar to that shown in my aforesaid patents.

The inner surface of each of the end slabs 14 nearest the rear of the mausoleum is preferably provided with a uniting vertical recess 17 and transverse recess 17 Arranged within the vert-ical recesses 17,are sections of pipe 18, which pass through openings in the shelves 12, 12,vand top slabs 13, and are united withinezjichcatacomb by a coupling 19. These pipes 18 form a conduit for gases and extend abo'gve the Catacombs and along the under surfaces of the roof slabs 4 closely adjacent thereto, and terminate at a point f i e l l a lea Rage at these points.

near the Ventilating openings in the robf. These pipes 1S may be supported under the root' by hands or clamps 20, if desired, or in any suitable manner.

Within the transverse recess 17." in each cataconib at one side of the vertical pipe 18, is a branch pipe 21 connected with the pipe 18, by the coupling 19.' The free ends of these -branch pipes 21 are open and prefen ably llaringly outturnel. In each'of these branch pipes 21, at a point between their ontturneil open ends and the couplings 19, there is a tubular projection 22 of slightly larger interior diameter than the pipes 21,l Ywhich tubular projections are upwardly inclined in the direction cf the pipes 18. The projections 22 are openended and exteriorly screw-threaded at their upper ends. A ball of suitable material is inserted into each ot these tubular projections, and a cap 24.- is then screwed over the upper screwthreaded ends of said projections, and if desired, a Washer or packing ring or disk. 25 may be employed to avoid any chance of Lt will be readily understood that the gases produced by the decomposition of a body within the catacomb, will pass into the open end fit the pipe 21 and force the ball up the inclined inner surface of the tubu# lar proies. n 2 (see Fig. 3), thus opening a. passager` .y for the gases to the vertical pipe 1S thmngh which they will be carried and conveyed into the atmosphere through the x-'cnlilaiing openings in the root. I prefor to employ a detiector 23 to aid in direct;- ing the. gases troni the pipes or conduits 18 into the ventilainff openings in the roof. This dellcctor may oe secured to the under surface of the keystone in any suitable manner 1t- Will also be obvious that when the ressure of the gases is relieved upon the halls 23, they will fall by gravity against their seats (as in dotted lines, Fig. 3), thus closing the passageivays into thecatacombs against the ingress of gases that might be rising in the pipes 18 from a, cat-acolnb below, or of any rJther foreign substance.

It is also essential that the fluid products of decomposition be conveyed from the cata-- conibs, and l provide for this in the following manner :-The upper surface of the bottom slab of each catacomb is provided with' a series of longitudinal grooves 27 and a transverse groove 2S, at or near one end with which the longitudinal grooves unite. These grooves, 27 commence at the surface of the slabs near one end and gradually deepen as they extend toward the transverse groove 2S, which groove is cut in a similar manner from one end to the other. lVithin the deeper end of each of said transverse grooves 2S, there is an opening 29 which extends entirely through the bottom slabs, the lower portion of suolopening being of reduced diameter forming a shoulder 30 Within" such opening in each bottom slab. Within the lower part of these openings 29, there. are tubular nicmlu rs 31, provided at their upper ends with an annular llange 32, Which.l rests upon the shoulders 30. The lower ends of these tubular members extend slightly below the under surface of each bottom slab. and are ext-eriorly screw-threaded. Branch pipes 33 are connected at one end to the screw threaded ends et the tubular members 31, while their other ends are connected with the pipes 18 by the coupling 19. 34 repre-- sents tightening nuts." `The branch pipes 33 are each provided.. wih an automatic valve such as described hi connection with the branch pipe 21, and upon which I have placed the same reference numerals.

It nill be readill understood that any vHuid products of ecompesitionl escaping into the catacomb, will ren down the inclined longitudinal grooves on the bottoni slabs and be directed by the transverse grooves into the openings 29 and branch pipes 33, and coming in contact with the balls 23, Will raise thc'sarne up the inclined inner surfaces of the tubular projections (see dotted lines, Fig. 3), and permit the passage of the fluid into the pipes 18:, down which it wil fall and by which it may be conveyed to the earth or to any'suitable receptacle- I have shown the lower ends of the pipes o`r conduitsklS as connected with a sen-e! 35, and it is preferred that check valves Ji. orployed at or near the lower ends ohese pipes to provide against the ingress of .'gases or other 'foreign substance. if

It. is preferable that the pipes' v18 and branch pipes 21 and 33 be arranged in the recesses 17 and 17a as shown, in order that there may be no projections beyond the inner surfaces of the cataeoinhs and therefore no liabilityv of the pipes being accidentally injured when placing a'casket and its rctaining box into-the catacomb, but itis obvious that these ipes may be arranged Within the cataeom is close to the inner surface of the walls, and the recesses dispensed with without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The 'Catacombs may be washed out or be cleansed by the use of a hose or otherwise if desired, when the Water and refuse will be carried away by the pipes 33 and 18.

The importance and advantages of the employment of theautornatic valves in the branch pipes 21 and 33 will be better understood by supposing that a burial has been made in the lower vault .or catacomb. Upon decomposition ofthe body, the gaseous products will enter the flared open end of the branch pipe 21 and force the ball 23 up the inclined inner surface of the part 22, allowing the gases to pass into the vertical pipe 18 and ascend therein while any J such gases that may enter the branch pipe 21 in a catacomb above will force the ball or balls 23in such catacomb or catacombs more I claim as my invention:

1. In a structure provided with a series of compartments, a vertical conduit crossing and connecting the compartments of the series and communicating with the atmosphere at the top, a branch conduit in each compartment connected at one end to and communicating with the interior of said ver tical conduit, its other end being open and communicating with the next compartment above, and an automatic valve in each said branch conduit intermediate its open end and said vertical conduit.

2. In a structure provided with a series of compartments, a vertical pipe crossing and connecting the compartments of the series, a branch pipe in each compartment connected at one end to and communicating with the interior of said vertical pipe, the free end of said branch pipe being open, an automatic valve in each said branch pipe intermediate its open end and said vertice? pipe, a second branch pipe in each compartment connected at one end to and communieating with the interior of said vertical pipe opposite to said tirst branch pipe, and an automatic valve in each said second branch pipe intermediate its open end and said Jer- 3. In a mausoleum adapted for the reception of a plurality .o f-` bodies, the combination of Catacombs arranged in `series of tiers with an.opening in the top and bottom of each catacomb, 'a vertical pipe passing through said openings in each series of tiers, a branch pipo connected to and communicatinglwith the interior of each vertical pipe at the top of each series of Catacombs and extending therefrom along underneath the roof of the mausoleum and communicating with the atmosphere, the said branch pipes being open-ended, a branch pipe in each catacomb. connected at one end to and communicating with the interior of said vertical ipes, the free end of each said branch pipe eing` open, an automatic valve in each said branch pipe intermediate its open end and said vertical pipe,.and a. detlector for directing the gases to the atmosphere as such gases issue from the open endsy of said branch pipes.

4. In a mausoleum adapted for the reception of a plurality of bodies, the combination of catacombs arranged in series of tiers with openings in the top and bottom slabs of each catacomb, a vvertical pipe passing through said openings in each series of tiers, a branch pipe in each catacouib communicat ing with said vertical pipe at one end and at the other end with the cataeomb immediately above, an automatic valve in each said branch pipe, and a brauch pipe connected to and communicating with the interior of said vertical pipes beneath the bottom slab of the lowermost catacomb of each series of catacombs aud extending beneath the mauso-l leum.

5. In a mausoleum adapted for the reception of a pluralitjv` et bodies, the combination of Catacombs arranged in series of tiers with openings in the top and .bottom sla'bs of each catacomb. a vertical pipe passing through said openings in each series of tiers, a branch pipe connected to and communicating with the interior of .saidvertical pipe at the top of each series of catacombs, the said branch pipes being opeircnded and comnmnicatiug with the atmosphere. a branch pipe connected to and couunuuirating with the interior ot' said vertical pipe beneath the bottom slab ot the lowermost catacomb of each series of catacomls and extending therefrom beneath the mausoleum, a branch pipe in each catacomb communicating vwith the interior of said vertical pipe. the free end of each said branch pipe within the Catacombs being open, an automatic valve in each said branch pipe, another branch pipe in each catacomb connnunicating atI one end with said vertical pipe. and at the other end Awith the catacomb immediately above, and an automatic valve in each said branch pipe.

6. In a mausoleum adapted for the reception of a plurality of bodies, the combination of catacombs arranged in series of tiers with openings in the top and bottom slabs of each catacomb, a vertical pipe passingr through said openings in each series of tiers,

'a branch pipe connected to and communicating with the interior of said vertical pipe at the top of each series of catacombs, the said branch pipes being open ended and `eouununicating with the atmosphere, 'a branch -pipe connected to and communicating 'with the interior ot said vertical pipe beneath the bottom slab of the lovrermost catacomb of each series of 'Catacombs and extending therefrom beneath the mausoleum, a branch pipe in each catacomb communicat- -ing with the interior of said vertical pipe, the free end of each said branch pipe within the Catacombs being open, an automatic valve in each lsaid branch pipe, another branch pipe in each catacomb 'communicating atone end with said vertical pipe and at, the other end with the catacomb immediately above, an automatic valve in each I said branch pipe. and a deectorfor direct'- Uopies c-t this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

mitted to escape from the vault and the ingress of gases or foreign matter prevented, 15 and other means lccated beneath the vault, p but communicating with the interior thereof I and also with the said conduits whereby fiuid productsof decomposition are carried away from the vault. Signed by me this 29th day of June, 1911.

THOMAS J. MOORE.

Witnesses: GEO. T. PINCKNEY, E. ZACHARIASEN.

"Commissioner of Patents, 

